Legend Review December 12, 2010 - Not for the Cheerleaders

[Beverley792]

Funny, we did this same cruise Oct 24-31 this year and our 2 children ages 6 & 10 had no problem walking "maybe" 1/2KM (we're Canadian) from the exit of the shop area. Yes, it was hot, and that probably made it worse. But it was not that bad. And you know children are often tired when walking anywhere.

 

The food was very good. Our 10yr old Daughter always found something she liked on the adult menu. And our 6yr old son ordered from the same adult menu.

 

There was decorations for Halloween with a scavenger party for the children.

 

We are far from cheerleaders. Although our kiddies have asked when the next Carnival cruise is.

[BeachChik]

The funny thing is that both Roatan (which Carnival no longer refers to as Roatan but as Mahogany Bay) and Cozumel are both Carnival versions of the resort in Florida. In my opinion this is a shame for if that is what I wanted I would vacation in central Florida. I want to cruise to get a chance to be immersed in the local population. I will write more about this later.

 

Sell, Sell , Sell or Nickle and Dime you. I understand that Carnival and all cruise lines are in the business to make money but the nickel and diming have reached unacceptable proportions. I understand the activities on the ship, but Carnival controls the shopping areas in two of the ports that we visited. Enough said. I will not go back to Roatan on Carnival, which is a shame, because it has the best beaches in the Western Caribbean. It appears that people who booked private excursions are required to walk what I estimate to be half a mile up and down a hill to reach their excursions. Carnival controls all entry into the site with guards on the street. There is no other way to get to a private excursion, though cabs are available inside the compound.

,

 

My only comment on your review is the above. Yes the pier is very touristy, but once you venture outside of the pier area you can see the real Roatan. We had a driver that took us all over Roatan, from the wealthy areas to what he referred to as the "ghetto". The opportunity is there you just have to look for it.

 

And I will also say the walk up the hill isn't bad at all. I have a Titanium rod in one leg and two herniated disc's in my back and I made the walk without issue. It was hot but other than that it was fine. It takes more to wander Disney all day than to walk up that hill.

 

And if the walking is an issue you can pay $1-2 to a taxi to take you up the hill. I would have paid it if it was an issue.

 

I loved Roatan and got to experience the island not the tourist areas.

[Mysschevous]

One member of your group can take the hike and return with your tour operator to pick up the rest at the compound. The tour operators are allowed to drive you back to the copound thus avoiding any return hike.[/b]

 

 

I booked with Victor Bodden for my upcoming Legend cruise, and he said they are no longer allowed to pick up the rest of the group, (he did say it was a new policy) and that all the people must walk to him. Something Carnival is enforcing.

[pnjkeith]

Why, I haven't seen anything in your review that was "good". I don't understand why people have to say it was a great cruise when it wasn't. Are we all afraid of the flamers?

 

Flamers? Who gives a dam about em, I dont. Carnival is going down hill, Cahill cares more about bottom line.

[okwriter]

Good job getting hubby to be a cruiser. I am looking for my next one now. Will do something this coming summer as we already have an AI booked for spring break and a cruise booked for next Christmas.

 

What are you planning for next Christmas?

[tidecruiser]

I appreciate the ops post. I have no problems with the experience that they posted.

 

The last two visits in Roatan I did see the island and the beaches with private tours. I truly enjoy getting off the beaten path. I do know on both of those cruises, the general theme of the different folks on the ship I talked with, hated the island. The reason, all they did is walk past the shacks to the downtown area (this was the old pier). It is a shame as it is beautiful island to me. So, I do realize that there are many cruisers that will enjoy the new port area. I just look at is as a private island type experience. This time in Roatan, I do not plan to go any further than Mahogany Bay and just relax.

 

In Cozumel, if you leave the pier area then you see the real Cozumel. Mr. Sanchos is basically a Mahogany Bay (but better with the food and unlimited drinks :-) ).

 

I do agree that cruising changes a little every time I cruise from the early days. You were hardly asked for any additional spending except for pictures and bingo. Now, it seems that they are selling everything and much emphasis is placed on the selling. I know that each ship has targets for drink, picture, shore excursions and etc. that they must meet on each sailing, so it causes the push. But, I have learned to tune it out.

 

My last two vacations were landbased resorts and they were doing the same thing. There was the private cabana's around the pool you could rent. The gift shop set up tables outside the door with discounted items. There were pieces of paper left in our room everyday with opportunities to spend money. The good news is that we didn't have to hear announcements pushing it several times a day.

 

I do wish it was like the old days, but I think all cruiselines are feeling the pressure to maintain profits. There have been a lot of strains put on the cruiselines from the rising fuel cost the past few years, the down economy, the addition of capacity in new ships and yet prices have remained about the same price as 15 years ago.

 

So, I am sure we will continue to see small little changes. I was really concerned about the trend a few years ago when RCI came out with the Voyager class ships and started charging for the Johnny Rockets (small charge) and NCL started the fee dining and the passengers were packing the places out. So that tells me there is a willingness to pay the upcharges and with that willingness the cruiselines will continue to find ways to part their passengers with their money.

 

I guess the positive is by adding the upcharges for restaurants and other specialty items on the new ships they are still able to keep the overall cruise price lower. If they started including some of the items they now charge for, then the overall price would have to go up. The way it is now, we can each choose to pay the extra money instead of being forced up front and then not even use what we are paying extra in the fare.

[firefly333]

We sailed from Tampa on December 12th. The first three days of the cruise were marred by foul weather which was no fault of Carnival’s. Those were probably the worst seas that I have ever encountered. Quite a few people spent all day Monday in their cabins. Tuesday was marginally better but it was still bad enough that we missed Grand Cayman. Carnival refunded the $13 port fee charge and added time at Roatan and Cozumel to attempt to make up for the lost port.

 

Entertainment: I am not sure what happened here but Carnival’s entertainment has fallen off terribly. They elected to replace the shows with comedians, and claim that they are well received.

 

I only mention it since you have a cruise blog yourself .. they do NOT refund the port fees .. they now return the TAX on the port fees. You might want to read the FAQs on Carnival ..

 

I completely agree about the comedians. I was all for it .. until I found out this was in lieu of real shows in the theater.

 

Its one reason Im kinda glad that once I get thru the bookings I now have on Carnival .. Im probably gone due to the 200% solo fee.

 

Its so chinzty .. its a shame. I love the shows... thats one of my favorite things .. to go to a show after dinner. boo on Carnival. Its a huge dissapointment to me... not just a little thing. HUGE.

[waiting4acruise]

I only mention it since you have a cruise blog yourself .. they do NOT refund the port fees .. they now return the TAX on the port fees. You might want to read the FAQs on Carnival ..

 

I completely agree about the comedians. I was all for it .. until I found out this was in lieu of real shows in the theater.

 

Its one reason Im kinda glad that once I get thru the bookings I now have on Carnival .. Im probably gone due to the 200% solo fee.

 

Its so chinzty .. its a shame. I love the shows... thats one of my favorite things .. to go to a show after dinner. boo on Carnival. Its a huge dissapointment to me... not just a little thing. HUGE.

On my Legend cruise last May they had a show in the main show lounge 6 of the 7 nights. On my Conquest cruise in September there were shows scheduled for 6 of the 7 nights.

[going2cruz]

Good review of Cahill's "DOWNHILL"

[zqvol]

On my Legend cruise last May they had a show in the main show lounge 6 of the 7 nights. On my Conquest cruise in September there were shows scheduled for 6 of the 7 nights.

 

Define show.

 

Shows used to consist of the band and dancers providing entertainment, not comedians. Yes, there was something in the main theater nightly but they sure did not qualify as shows.

[firefly333]

On my Legend cruise last May they had a show in the main show lounge 6 of the 7 nights. On my Conquest cruise in September there were shows scheduled for 6 of the 7 nights.

 

I was on the same cruise and so dissapointed that we actually only had 3 shows that I saw .. thats when I discovered that they were doing the comedy shows back in the lounge .. maybe you guys were in the casino?? I went to a empty theater multiple nights.

 

I was most unhappy with so few shows .. I know they did a singing review of one of the two musical numbers .. because of the waves .. but the 2nd singing show wasnt even scheduled that night .. so again gyped... Im a show person and actually went .. you guys are up in the casino. They could have done a full show had they waited and done it on the scheduled night.. Im not mad about missing two ports and not picking up the folks for the magic show .. which we also missed btw. .. as the fact so few were scheduled and they didnt bother to ever do the full 2nd show.

[CrzGrl62569]

Why, I haven't seen anything in your review that was "good". I don't understand why people have to say it was a great cruise when it wasn't. Are we all afraid of the flamers?

 

 

Go back and read it again!

[zqvol]

I appreciate the ops post. I have no problems with the experience that they posted.

 

. . .

 

In Cozumel, if you leave the pier area then you see the real Cozumel. Mr. Sanchos is basically a Mahogany Bay (but better with the food and unlimited drinks :-) ).

 

. . .

 

 

 

Nice that you have no problem with what I experienced since it is my review that is all that is relevant.

 

Mr Sanchos is NOTHING like Mahogany Bay and it is not owned by Carnival. It is the typical Mexican beach bar just like Nachi Cocum and Chankenabh that everyone raves about.

[footballfu45]

It was my now fiancee and I's first cruise and we loved it. However, I agree with you about Mahogany Bay. Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful area, but when I leave the country I want to feel like I'm actually out of the country. Missing Grand Cayman was a blessing in disguise, because we took the money we would have spent there, and took an excursion in Roatan. (Originally we were going to stay at Mahogany Bay to save money.) It was our favorite port once we ventured outside of the gates. It's ridiculous what Carnival is doing their. Because of the last minute change, we just went on an excursion with Carnival, but in the future I will book privately there. The island is probably the most beautiful place I have ever been. I cannot stress enough that people NEED to leave Mahogany Bay and see the real Roatan.

[footballfu45]

I forgot. Cozumel was probably our least favorite port because of the Americanization as well. We went to Paradise Beach because we just wanted a beach day, but after spending time there our cash supply was running out so we just went back to the port. We would have liked to see downtown Cozumel. I spent 2-3 times on Mexican food in port than I ever have in the US haha. The margarita tasted like jet fuel...had to have been 2/3 to 3/4 tequila.

 

Sometime later this week or next I will get around to writing a review.

[In2why]

I appreciate all the feedback left regarding The Legend ship, we are sailing on it January 21st and it's our FIRST cruise. We are not into "entertainment" at all....as we plan to just relax, read, have a few drinks daily and generally unwind and play catch-up in our brains. ;)

 

We do plan to upgrade several of our meals to the steakhouse, reading about the lower quality of food served was however disappointing.

 

Orginally we planned for excursions...but changed our minds to all of them and decided to just not leave the ship this first time around...as relaxation

in quiet is definitely in order for us.

 

Hey, again, thank you for your most interesting and enlightening comments. Much appreciated.

 

 

I was on the Legend the week before and while I am not a foodie, I do enjoy good food, and variety. I was very happy with the food in the Dining room, and other than the Flat Iron Steak which even at rare was tough to chew, and the chocolate melting cake which I just don't like, everything else was very good. It was so good in fact that I canceled our reservations for the Steakhouse. Please try it before you write it off as a lost cause.

 

I do agree with the cafeteria style breakfast served on Lido, but it was much better in the dining room. We chose to eat on Lido most morning though because it was convenient. It wasn't bad....just not special. But I wanted filling and fast, not special in the morning before ports.

[waiting4acruise]

Define show.

 

Shows used to consist of the band and dancers providing entertainment, not comedians. Yes, there was something in the main theater nightly but they sure did not qualify as shows.

There were 2 review shows, a magician, a Motown, singer, and the Legends show scheduled.

[waiting4acruise]

I was on the same cruise and so dissapointed that we actually only had 3 shows that I saw .. thats when I discovered that they were doing the comedy shows back in the lounge .. maybe you guys were in the casino?? I went to a empty theater multiple nights.

 

I was most unhappy with so few shows .. I know they did a singing review of one of the two musical numbers .. because of the waves .. but the 2nd singing show wasnt even scheduled that night .. so again gyped... Im a show person and actually went .. you guys are up in the casino. They could have done a full show had they waited and done it on the scheduled night.. Im not mad about missing two ports and not picking up the folks for the magic show .. which we also missed btw. .. as the fact so few were scheduled and they didnt bother to ever do the full 2nd show.

There were 6 shows originally scheduled. Due to rough seas and missed ports the lady magician did not make the ship and they canceled the dancing on the 2nd review for safety reasins.

[zqvol]

There were 6 shows originally scheduled. Due to rough seas and missed ports the lady magician did not make the ship and they canceled the dancing on the 2nd review for safety reasins.

 

Sorry but there were only two shows scheduled. Magicians and comedians do not count as shows.

[VM_Mom]

We are sailing on the Legend on 1/2. So just checking - are you saying there are no more musical shows onboard? Only comedy routines?

[quickrate]

Nice that you have no problem with what I experienced since it is my review that is all that is relevant.

 

Mr Sanchos is NOTHING like Mahogany Bay and it is not owned by Carnival. It is the typical Mexican beach bar just like Nachi Cocum and Chankenabh that everyone raves about.

 

I would agree. We have been to Cozumel many,many times and went to mr. Sanchos for the first time in oct. By recommendation of another cruiser and loved it! Will go there again.

Pat

[quickrate]

I was on the Legend the week before and while I am not a foodie, I do enjoy good food, and variety. I was very happy with the food in the Dining room, and other than the Flat Iron Steak which even at rare was tough to chew, and the chocolate melting cake which I just don't like, everything else was very good. It was so good in fact that I canceled our reservations for the Steakhouse. Please try it before you write it off as a lost cause.

 

I do agree with the cafeteria style breakfast served on Lido, but it was much better in the dining room. We chose to eat on Lido most morning though because it was convenient. It wasn't bad....just not special. But I wanted filling and fast, not special in the morning before ports.

 

We also found the food to be good in the dining room and we had great service. Of course, that may have been because we knew the maitre'd And he personally assigned our server who goes with him to every ship. I agree that breakfast in the dining room can be very uninspiring but the made to order omelets are great and we usually order that for breakfast.